Brass Colored Steel Case

10wt308 · Aug 6, 2022

While processing a lot of 9mm brass my son and I shot I had pin tumbled load I happened to drag my magnet through the pile and to my surprise I heard click, click. Looked and realize some cases stuck to the magnet.

This was the second cleaning because the the first came out tarnished looking. (maybe this os why)

anyone run across this. I don't shoot steel cases (not purposely)

I started loading 50 + years ago and never have I run across this (but I haven't run a magnet through them)
All the cases are the same headstamp - hard to read but they look like S &B 9 x 19 80

When I figure out how to do a picture I will
Could be some of the discolored problem I've read about

Slamfire · Aug 6, 2022

Has to be Russian. Not going to be imported as long as American manufacturers can keep out foreign competitors, so generations from now, it may be a curiosity.

Brass-Plated Steel Cased Ammo:

tightgroup tiger · Aug 6, 2022

Its called copper washed plating. They usually turn bright pink when cleaned with citric acid and pins.
I have brass that is anodized copper color also.
Win headstamp.

tmd16556 · Aug 6, 2022

I found one of those once in a case trimmer (trimming to 9x18). Some S&B is brass plated steel and boxer primed.I’ve found Baranaul 223 in brass plated steel, but it’s berdan primed so it gets caught in the depriming process.

Hugger-4641 · Aug 6, 2022

I've had it happen to cases I knew were steel and came out looking like brass. The bottom pic shows a nickel case for comparison with the steel that looks like brass.

Walkalong · Aug 6, 2022

10wt308 said:
hard to read but they look like S &B 9 x 19 80

Yep. S&B

Mark_Mark · Aug 7, 2022

Hugger-4641 said:
I've had it happen to cases I knew were steel and came out looking like brass. The bottom pic shows a nickel case for comparison with the steel that looks like brass.
View attachment 1094563

View attachment 1094564

wow! that’s had to tell the difference

GeoDudeFlorida · Aug 7, 2022

tmd16556 said:
I found one of those once in a case trimmer (trimming to 9x18). Some S&B is brass plated steel and boxer primed.I’ve found Baranaul 223 in brass plated steel, but it’s berdan primed so it gets caught in the depriming process.

Same here. Trimming 9Luger to 9Mak on the jewelry lathe and got one of those steel-brass cases. It grabbed the tool and snapped. I had to tear everything down and sharpen the cutoff. What a pain. I switched to an angled facing tool in case I got another.

10wt308 · Aug 7, 2022

Guess I’ll have to add another step and use the magnet before I put them in the tumbler.
Makes me wonder how many steel cases I have processed over the years and did not know

forgot to add it only took 10 cases mixed with 6 pounds of cases

Carl N. Brown · Aug 7, 2022

Encountered brass colored steel rifle casings about a year ago. Have to run my tool retriever magnet through all my brass pickups now.

sparkyv · Aug 7, 2022

Dog gone it, me too.

10wt308 said:
Guess I’ll have to add another step and use the magnet before I put them in the tumbler.

lightman · Aug 7, 2022

There are more of these out there than you think. I run a magnet over all of my range pick ups now.

Hartkopf · Aug 7, 2022

I’ve caught a bunch of brass colored steel over the last year. This last shortage really seemed to bring out the cheap crap. All the new shooters were willing to grab ANYTHING to shoot. I started recognizing the steel cases at the range and quit picking them up.

jmorris · Aug 7, 2022

S&B makes both brass and brass plated steel 9mm cases.

mstreddy · Aug 7, 2022

I ran into the brass colored steel cases some time ago. 30-06 actually, and the S&B 9MM as well.

dcarr · Aug 7, 2022

After reading this thread I am currently in the market for a magnet, can't believe I don't have one. When kids were home it seems they were everywhere, had a particularly big ugly one stuck to fridge that i suspect the wife disappeared.

tightgroup tiger · Aug 7, 2022

I have a 10lb fishing magnet that works well for fishing them out of batches of cases.
Walkalongs magnetron magnet out of a microwave would work good to. They are pretty powerful. We save them at work for various things.
We use ultraviolet curing ink in the coloring dept. Go through lots of magnetrons.

10wt308 · Aug 7, 2022

cyclone.jpeg
This works well and the pins fall right off

SingleActionAndrew · Aug 7, 2022

Feels a bit like betrayal from our friends at S&B! Some of their brass is quite nice

JO JO · Aug 7, 2022

I have noticed brass plated steel cases as well
Just had a handful of sig head stamped brass stick to a magnet

Cliff6 · Aug 7, 2022

Almost everyone anymore has an old dead computer laying around.....or can find one. Take the hard drive apart and you will find a VERY strong magnet. Great for finding that brass washed steel.

Cliff

Highland Lofts · Aug 7, 2022

I have a magnet from Harbor Freight. I use it a lot.
I wet tumble and collect the stainless steel pins out of the brass.
I also use one when we go shooting up at the DNR pits to pick up the shotgun hulls and steel rifle and pistol cases.

About $12.

FROGO207 · Aug 7, 2022

I don't trash mine. I do separate them from the regular brass though. Then I save the steel handgun cases to reload where there will be a lost brass event. They can have my steel cases LOL. I clean them minimally in corn cob after checking for berdan primers before loading though.

10wt308 · Aug 7, 2022

Has anyone read a new box to see if it is labeled steel cases.
I feel like they are pulling one over on us.

FROGO207 · Aug 7, 2022

The only ones that I see that mention steel cases are the eastern block/chicom ammo with the lacquer or polymer coating. These are obviously not brass.

Brass Colored Steel Case

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